INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 251 



those of larger size are navigable for small vessels to a consi- 

 derable distance. 



The northern part of the peninsula is now subject to the 

 kingdom of Siam, which has extended its limits to the south, 

 so as to occupy the state of Kedah. Further south, inde- 

 pendent Malays possess the whole of the country, except the 

 three British settlements of Penang, Malacca, and Singapur. 



From its proximity to the equator, and from the peculiarity 

 of its shape, — a long, narrow strip of land, nearly enclosed by 

 sea, — the Malayan Peninsula enjoys a very mild and equable 

 climate. The monsoon winds, which are influenced by general 

 causes at a great distance, prevail here with as much regula- 



monsoon 



un 



north of the equator, and the north-east 



in 



southern hemisphere. Local cau 

 winds very much, and regular land 

 the coast. Both these monsoons 



dify 



mountain 



condense the vapours. The north-east monsoon is, however, 

 more rainy than the other, hecause the 



mountains 



matra, which receive the first supply of moisture from the 

 south-west monsoon, are considerably more elevated than 

 those of the peninsula itself. The most rainy months are, 

 therefore, from November to January, and February is the 

 coldest month of the year. In the Straits of Malacca the 

 rain-fall is nowhere excessive. On the hill of Penang it was 



year 



Welleslcy 



>ite coast, the amount was 79-15 inches. At Singapur the 

 Ml is 98 inches, and at Malacca the same. On the south 

 coast of Sumatra, and on the north-eastern face of the Pe- 

 ninsula, the fall is probably much greater. The mean tempe- 

 rature of Singapur is 79'7°, and the temperature ol the diftc- 

 rent months differs very little from the mean of the year. 

 In the equable and humid climate of Malaya, wc have a 



